Graceland University Professor of Art Julia Franklin Named a 2018 Iowa Arts Fellow

This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity presented itself to Franklin, so she went for it. Along with four other recipients, Franklin beat out 325 other applicants to receive the award for the 2019 Artist Fellowship fiscal year presented through the Iowa Arts Council. It is funded by an annual appropriation from the Iowa Legislature to the Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, and by the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Each recipient of this prestigious fellowship receives a $10,000 grant, professional development, promotional support and participation in Creative Capital’s Core Weekend of Professional Development Program.

“The award means I can dream big and pursue my wish list. Already, I have secured a studio space in downtown Des Moines at Mainframe Studios. I’m also partnering with NAMI, the national alliance for mental illness in Iowa and with OneIowa. The award is opening doors and helping me make connections with other artists and nonprofit groups already. Coupled with the Creative Capital Professional Development Seminar, I’ll be able to pass that knowledge and these connections on to our students. And down the line, I hope to make others aware that the arts in southern Iowa are alive and vibrant.”

Franklin’s exhibit, “Picking Up the Pieces,” addresses mental health and identity by creating works from discarded objects. It will be on display Jan. 14 – March 8, 2019, at Graceland University’s The Helene Center for the Visual Arts.

Congratulations, Julia!